Anthony Joshua on course for BBC gong

Anthony Joshua’s odds on being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year have shortened further after Chris Froome’s chances of winning looked to have disappeared.

Froome was seen as one of the possible challenges to World Heavyweight champion Joshua, but the four-time Tour De France winner has returned an “adverse” drugs test at the Vuelta a Espana – which he also win.

Froome is not banned, but it has had an impact on his chances of winning Sports Personality of the Year.

“The news on Froome has hit his odds, he is now rifted to as long as 80/1 in places, even his odds on placing in the top-three are at 7/1 – he was previously odds-on for the top-three,” said OddsMonkey spokesman Peter Watton.

“Joshua is now virtually a given to take the honour, he is as short as 1/9 – which is a 90% probability and at that price it means some Bookmakers will soon close their book on him. Second favourite is Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton who is around 6/1.

“With Froome moving out in the market, the top-three market offers the best chance of some value with Harry Kane now favourite to finish in the top-three behind Joshua and Hamilton.”